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Bird and Game Laws 

OF 

Rhode Island 



Revised to 
JUNE 1, 1922 



Issued by the 
Commissioners of Birds 



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Bird and Game Laws 

OF 

Rhode Island 



Revised to 
JUNE 1, 1922 



Issued by tlie 
Commissioners of Birds 






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ninffi itihint 1 r i ' r t • n • 1 1 iniaitii* w* i n « ff timi 



INDEX 

General Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 136 



Section 

1. Penalty for killing or selling wild birds. 

2. Penalty for pursuing with intent to kill wild birds. 

3. Penalty for disturbing nests or eggs of birds, 

4. Close season for shore birds, water fowl and upland 

game birds. 

5. Open season for same. 

6. Penalty for sale of quail, partridge and woodcock. 

7. Exemption of English sparrows, English starling, 

hawks, owls and crows. 

8. Close season on certain shore birds, Hungarian 

partridge and wx)od duck. 

9. Penalty for sending birds outside the state. 

10. Penalty for trapping quail or partridge and the use 

of certain kinds of weapons, and hunting one 
hour before sunrise or after sunset. 

11. Possession evidence of killing. 

12. Penalty for killing homing pigeon. 

13. Penalty for detaining same. 

14. Penalty for hunting on land of another without 

permission. 

15. Permitting the killing of birds for scientific pur- 

poses. 



16. Penalty for hunting from power boat. 

17. Repealed. 

18. Repealed. 

19. Fines, how disposed of. 

20. Commissioners of Birds, appointment of. 

21. Commissioners of Birds, duties of. 

22. DiBputy Commissioners, appointment of and theii 

duties. 

23. Powers of Commissioners of Birds and their deputies 

24. Search warrants, how procured; disposal of seized 

game. 

25. Penalty for hunting on posted land. 

26. Repealed. 
27. 

28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 

33. Close season on Warwick Neck. (See also Public 

Laws — Chapter 2003.) 

34. Penalty for violation of Sec. 33. 

35. Game, birds or animals may not be kept in certain 

places of business. 

36. Penalty for violation of Sec. 35, or for compro- 

mising any violation of bird and game law. 

37. Possession of more than fifteen wild birds pro- 

hibited. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 2097 
AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 136 OF 
THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF BIRDS." 

Section 

3. Penalty for doing wilful damage while hunting, 

trapping or fishing. 

4. Enacting clause. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 381 
Section 

1. Hunting licenses, must be obtained. Certain excep- 

tions to s^me. 

2. Licenses to be issued by town clerks. 

3. Fees for licenses. 

4. Licenses, how procured. 

5. Licenses must be in possession. 

6. Penalty for violation of this chapter. 

7. License fees, how disposed of. 

8. Commissioners of Birds shall enforce this chapter. 

9. Deputies shall not collect portion of fines under 

certain conditions. 

10. Enacting clause. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 2093 
PROVIDING FOR FORFEITURE OF HUNTERS' 
LICENSES. 

Section 

1. Forfeiture of license. 

2. Enacting clause. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1229 

AN ACT MAKING STATE RESERVATION RE- 
FUGES FOR BIRDS AND GAME. 

Section 

1. Hunting on Reservations and Parks prohibited. 

2. Officials in charge to enforce. 

3. Fine, not exceeding $20. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1230 

Section 

1. Racoon, muskrat, mink, otter and skunk, close sea- 

son for. 

2. May be killed on own land. 

General Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 137 
Section 

1. Rabbit, hare and gray squirrel, close season for. 

2. Use of ferrets prohibited. 

3. Possession of ferret while hunting prohibited. 

4. Restriction on hunting deer. 

5. Deer, provisions for killing same on own land. 

6. Penalty for violation of sections 4 and 5. 

7. Commissioners shall enforce this chapter. 



8. Commissioners or deputies shall not be required to 

furnish surety. 

9. Commissioners or deputies may arrest without war- 

rant. 
10. Wire snares prohibited and penalties for same. 
n. Persons injured by violations of this chapter may 

recover damages. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1076 
Section 

1. Steel traps, restrictions as to size. 

2. Trapping on land of another, written permission 

necessary. Traps must be visited every twenty- 
four hours. 

3. Traps, how they must be placed. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1513 

Section 

1. Licenses for propagation of wild birds and gam 

quadrupeds. 

2. Licenses may be revoked. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1663 

AN ACT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STAT] 
BIRD AND QUADRUPED PRESERVES AND 
THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS 
AND QUADRUPEDS. 
Section 

1. Establishment of Bird and Game Sanctuaries. 

2. Hunting on same forbidden. 

3. Not to affect provisions of other chapters. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 2003 

AN ACT MAKING A GAME PRESERVE IN TH] 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 

Section 

1. Taking, killing, etc., of wild birds on certain land i 

Warwick prohibited for four years. 

2. Licensed hunter may shoot wild water fowl in ope: 

season. 

3. Penalty. 



General Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 136 
OF BIRDS. 

(As amended.) 

Section 1. Every person who shall take, kill, destroy, 
buy, sell or offer for sale, or have in his possession any 
wild bird or birds, including grebes, loons, gulls, terns, 
bitterns, herons, cranes, doves, woodpeckers, nighthawks, 
meadowlarks, commonly called "marsh quail," and blue 
jays at any season of the year, except as hereinafter pro- 
vided, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars for 
each of such birds. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 2. Every person who shall pursue with intent to 
kill any wild bird, except as hereinafter provided, shall 
be fined twenty dollars for each offence. 

Sec. 3 Every person who shall wilfully disturb or 
destroy the nest or eggs of any wild bird, except as herein- 
after provided, shall be fined twenty dollars for each 
offence. 

Sec. 4. Every person who shall take, kill or pursue 
with intent to kill, any of the anatidse, commonly known 
as "water fowl," including any brant, wild duck or wild 
goose, between the fifteenth day of January and the first 
day ofjjOctober next following; any rail between the thir- 
tieth day of November and the first day of September 
following; any black-breasted plover, golden plover, 



10 

greater yellow legs, or lesser yellow legs, between the 
thirtieth day of November and the sixteenth day of 
August following, Wilson snipe between the thirtieth day 
of November and the first day of October following; 
ruffed grouse, commonly known as "partridge," quail, 
commonly called ''bob white," woodcock or pheasant, be- 
tween the thirty-first day of December and the first day 
of November following, shall be fined not exceeding 
twenty dollars for each offence; and whoever shall buy, 
sell or offer for sale at any time of the year or have in 
his possession any rail, black-breasted plover, golden 
plover, Wilson snipe, greater or lesser yellow legs, ruffed 
grouse, quail or woodcock, during the time that they 
are herein protected by law, whenever or wherever killed, 
shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars for each such 
bird. (See Chapter 2097.) 

Sec. 5. Sections 1 and 2 of this chapter shall not 
apply to the shooting of anatidse, including brant, wild 
ducks and wild geese, from the first day of October to 
the fifteenth day of February next following, inclusive; 
woodcock from the first day of November to the thirty- 
first day of December, inclusive; rails, black-breasted 
and golden plover, Wilson snipe, commonly called "Jack 
Snipe," greater and lesser yellow legs, from the fifteenth 
day of August to the thirtieth day of November, inclu- 
sive; ruffed grouse, commonly called "partridge," quail, 
commonly called "bob white," and pheasant, from the 
first day of November to the thirty-first day of Decem- 
ber, inclusive: Provided, however, that this section 
shall not be construed as affecting the close season for 



11 

wood duck as provided for in Section 8 of this chapter. 
(See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 6. Whoever sells, or offers for sale or has in his 
possession, with intent to sell, any ruffed grouse, com- 
monly called ''partridge," quail, or any woodcock, when- 
ever or wherever such bird may be taken or killed, shall 
be punished by a fine of twenty dollars for each bird, 
one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one- 
half thereof to the use of the state. 

Sec. 7. Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this chapter shall not 
apply to the killing of, or the destruction of the nests 
or eggs of English sparrows, English starlings, hawks 
(except fish hawks), owls and crows, and crow-black- 
birds, at any season of the year, by any person on his 
own land. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 8. Every person who shall take, kill or pursue 
with intent to kill, destroy, sell, buy, or offer for sale, 
or have in his possession any wood duck, swan or any 
of the limicolse commonly known as shore, marsh or 
beach birds, including curlew, dowitchers, dodwits, 
knots, phalaropes, plover, sandpipers, snipe, stilts, surf 
birds, turnstones, willett, or Hungarian partridge, shall 
for each offence be fined not exceeding twenty dollars: 
Provided, that the words "Hungarian partridge," shall 
not be construed to apply to the birds commonly called 
partridge or ruffed grouse; and provided, further, that 
this section shall not be construed as affecting the open 
season for woodcock, black-breasted plover, golden 
plover, Wilson snipe, greater yellow legs or lesser yel- 



12 

low legs, as already provided for in Section 4 of this 
chapter. (See Chapter 2097.) 

Sec. 9. Every person who shall carry or send beyond 
the limits of this state at any time any wild duck, wild 
swan, wild goose, rail, any of the limicolse or shore, 
marsh, or beach birds, any woodcock, quail, commonly 
called "bob white," or ruffed grouse, commonly called 
"partridge," shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars 
for each of said birds. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 10. Every person who shall at any time of the 
year take, kill or destroy any quail or partridge by 
means of any trap, snare, net or spring, or who shall 
construct, erect, set, repair, maintain or tend any trap, 
snare, net or spring, for the purpose of taking, killing 
or destroying any quail or partridge, or who shall shoot 
any water fowl by means or by use of any battery, 
swivel, punt, or pivot gun, or who shall take, kill, or 
pursue with intent to kill any migratory game or insec- 
tivorous birds between one hour after sunset and one 
hour before sunrise, shall be fined for each offence not 
exceeding twenty dollars. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 11. Possession by any person of any bird during 
the time when the taking, killing or destruction of such 
bird is prohibted by this chapter, shall be evidence 
before any court of competent jurisdiction that such 
bird was taken, killed or destroyed in violation of this 
chapter. 



13 

Sec. 12. Every person who shall wilfully maim, shoot, 
)r otherwise kill any antwerp or homing-pigeon, com- 
nonly called and known by the name of "carrier pigeon," 
either while in flight or at rest, shall be fined for each 
)ffence not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sec. 13. Every person who shall wilfully entrap, 
;atch or detain any antwerp or homing-pigeon, com- 
nonly called and known by the name of "carrier pigeon," 
ihall be fined for each offence not exceeding twenty 
lollars: Provided, however, that such pigeon shall at 
he time have the name of the owner stamped upon its 
dng or tail, or have a band with the owner's name, 
nitial or number on its leg. 

Sec. 14. Every person who shall between the thirty- 
irst day of December and the first day of November next 
ollowing, shoot or kill any bird upon land not owned 
»r occupied by himself, and without permission of the 
>wner or occupant thereof, shall forfeit and pay to the 
iwner or occupant thereof five dollars for the first offence 
.nd ten dollars for every subsequent offence, in addition 
o the damages sustained. (See Chapter 2213). 

Sec. 15. Any person above the age of fifteen years, 
laving a certificate from the curator of the museum of 
oology of Brown University, the president of the Rhode 
sland College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, or 
rom any incorporated society of natural history or 
ollege in the state to the effect that said person is en- 
;aged in the scientific study of ornithology or is making 
ollections in the interest of or for said institutions, or 



14 

any one of them, may take the nest and eggvS of, or a 
any season of the year may take or kill, any undomesti 
cated birds, except those named in sections four anc 
five. 

Sec. 16. Every person who shall at any time of the 
year shoot, kill, or pursue with intent to shoot or kill 
any water-fowl from, by means of, or by the use of, any 
sailboat, motor-boat, or launch, or any boat propelled 
by steam, gasoline, kerosene, or naptha, or from, by 
means of, or by the use of any boat except what is com- 
monly known as a skiff and propelled by oars, shall be I 
punished by a fine of twenty dollars for each and every 
offence. (See Chapter 1043.) 

Sec. 17. Repealed (See Chapter 1032.) 

Sec. 18. Repealed. (See Chapter 1032.) 

Sec. 19. All fines recovered by virtue of this chapter; 
shall enure one-half thereof to the use of the state andl 
one-half thereof to the use of the complainant, and all 
prosecutions therefor shall be commenced within ninety 
days after the commission of the offence and not after- 
wards. 

Sec. 20. There shall be five commissioners of birds, 
who shall serve without compensation. At the January 
session of the General Assembly in the year A. D. nine- 
teen hundred eleven, and in each third year thereafter, 
the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, 
shall appoint five persons to be commissioners of birds 



15 

to succeed the commissioners then in office; and the 
persons so appointed shall hold their office until the 
first day in February in the third year after their appoint- 
ment. Any vacancy which may occur in said offices 
when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the 
governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, 
with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some 
persons to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. 

Sec. 21. The commissioners of birds shall protect 
wild birds and wild animals throughout the state, and 
shall prosecute every person who shall violate any of 
the laws of this state relating to wild birds or wild animals, 
and the setting or attendance of snares and traps. When- 
ever complaint is made by said commissioners, or either 
of them, or by their deputies, of any violation of any 
of the laws of this state relating to wild birds or wild 
animals, or relating to the setting or attendance of snares 
and traps, they shall not be required either by themselves 
or by their deputies, to furnish surety for costs or be 
liable for costs on such complaint. (See Chapter 1535.) 

Sec. 22. Said commissioners in their discretion may 
appoint any number of deputies, and shall issue com- 
missions undpr their hands to said deputies, empowering 
them to execute the duties of such office, and shall record 
the names of said deputies with the secretary of state. 
It shall be the duty of the commissioners of birds and 
their deputies to enforce all of the laws of this state re- 
lating to wild birds and wild animals, and the setting or 
attendance of snares or traps for wild birds or wild 



16 

animals, and they shall have the power to execute all 
warrants arui search warrants issued for the violation 
of the laws of this state with reference to wild birds or 
wild animals, and the setting or attending of snares or 
traps for wild birds or wild animals, and they shall have 
the power to arrest without warrant any person whom 
they find violating such laws: Provided, that any person 
so arrested without warrant, shall not be detained longer 
than twenty-four hours. (See Chapter 1535.) 

Sec. 23. The commissioners of birds and their deputies 
shall have power to make search where they have reason 
to believe that wild birds or wild animals or any parts 
thereof, are possessed in violation of law, and without 
search warrant to examine the contents of any boat, car, 
wagon or other vehicle, box, locker, basket, crate, game 
bag, or other package, or the contents of any building 
other than a dwelling house, to ascertain whether any 
of the provisions of the laws of this state relating to 
the protection of wild birds or wild animals have been 
or are being violated, and to use such force as may be 
necessary for the purpose of such examination and 
inspection; and with a search warrant to search and 
examine the contents of any building or dwelling house, 
seize all wild birds or wild animals, or any parts thereof, 
possessed in violation of the law, or showing evidence 
of illegal taking, and hold the same subject to the order 
of the court issuing such search warrant. If any such 
wild birds or wild animals shall be seized without search 
warrant under the provisions of this section, the same 
procedure shall be pursued as is hereinafter in this chapter 



17 

provided for the forfeiture of wild birds and animals 
taken under a search warrant. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 24. Whenever complaint is made on oath to any 
magistrate authorized to issue warrants in criminal 
cases, that the complainant believes and has reason- 
able cause to believe that wild birds or wild animals 
are being possessed contrary to law, or that the laws 
in relation to wild birds or wild animals have been or 
are being violated in any building or place, such magis- 
trate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such 
belief, shall issue a search warrant, authorizing any 
officer competent to serve a warrant, to search such 
place or building; but no search shall be made after 
sunset unless specially authorized by the magistrate 
upon satisfactory cause shown; and all such wild birds 
or wild animals shall be taken and be kept by such 
officer in some proper place of security until they can 
be proceeded against in the manner hereinafter provided; 
and the officer shall summon the owner or keeper, if any 
be named in the complaint, if to be found by him, and the 
warrant shall be returned by said officer with his doings 
thereon, as soon as may be, to the district court having 
jurisdicton of the same in the district where such wild 
' birds or wild animals shall have been seized. 

If the owner or keeper be not named in the warrant 
or not found, the court shall order a notice of such seizure 
tto be given by posting up written notices in at least 
! th ree public places in the town or city, one of which 
i shall be on the building or near the place, where the 



18 

seizure was made and such other notice shall be given 
as the court shall deem to be necessary. 

All wild birds and wild animals seized under this 
chapter, which were possessed or kept in violation of 
law, shall be forfeited to the state, and the officer making 
such seizure, or an officer designated by the court for the 
purpose, shall forthwith proceed to prosecute for the 
forfeiture thereof in the manner provided by law. 

If the cause for forfeiture be proved, the court before 
which the complaint or information shall be tried shall 
enter sentence of forfeiture to the state against said wild 
birds or wild animals; and any person aggrieved by such 
sentence may appeal therefrom to the superior court 
according to the provisions relating to criminal appeals 
from districts courts. If the cause of forfeiture be not 
proved, then all such seized wild birds or wild animals 
shall be forthwith restored to the proper owner thereof 
or to the place from which they were taken by the officer 
who seized the same. 

Upon entry of sentence of forfeiture against such wild 
birds or wild animals, if no appeal be then taken or no 
recognizance given as prescribed in other criminal cases, 
the court shall forthwith issue a warrant to the officer, 
commanding him forthwith to destroy or to distribute 
to public hospitals, or if alive, to liberate said wild birds 
or wild animals; and every such officer shall execute 
said warrant and shall return the same, with his doings 
thereon, to the court, within such time as the court shall 
direct. In case of final judgment for the state on appeal, 



19 

the court entering such final judgment shall issue the like 
warrant, as aforesaid, for the destruction or liberation 
of the wild birds or wild animals seized. 

There shall be allowed and paid to the officer who 
shall make the same for every seizure made under the 
foregoing provisions, the sum of five dollars, with two 
dollars additional for every day after the first that such 
officer shall be necessarily employed in causing the 
wild birds or wild animals seized to be condemned and 
ten cents for every mile that he shall necessarily travel 
therein, together with such reasonable sum as the court 
may deem just for necessary expense incurred in pro- 
viding storage for wild birds or wild animals seized, 
pending proceedings for condemnation, all which costs 
shall be taxed in the bill of costs and the amount allowed 
by the court in which final judgment shall be rendered 
to such officers, shall be paid by the state auditor out 
of any money, in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: 
Provided, that no fees herein provided to be paid to the 
officer making such seizure shall be paid to any officer, 
who at the time of such seizure is under pay as a deputy 
commissioner of birds. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 25. Whoever shall enter upon the land of another 
for the purpose of either shooting, trapping, or fishing 
when the same shall be conspicuously posted by the 
owner or occupant with notices that shooting, trapping, 
or fishing is prohibited thereon, or whoever shall with- 
out right mutilate, destroy, or remove any such notice, 
Ishall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars. 



20 

Sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of this chaptei 
are repealed by the provisions of Chapter 381. 

Sec. 33. No person shall take, kill, destroy or pur- 
sue or in any manner molest any wild bird at any season 
of the year for a term of five years, beginning July 1, 
1919, on Warwick Neck, in the town of Warwick, south 
of the tracks of the Rhode Island Suburban Railwa\ 
Company from the easterly approach to the bridge at 
Warwick Cove, so-called, to Rocky Point station and 
thence in a line easterly from said station to Narragansett 
Bay. (See Chapter 1779. See also Chapter 2003.) 

Sec 34. Every person who shall violate the pro- 
visions of the foregoing section shall be punished by a 
fine of twenty-five dollars for each offence. (See Chap- 
ter 1085.) 

Sec. 35. No person, firm, corporation or association 
dealing in poultry, meats, fish, groceries or other pro- 
visions or engaged in the cold storage business, or an> 
other business which requires, or has an ice box or cold 
storage or freezing vault, of any description, for use in 
connection with his, their or its business, and no hotel 
club, public house, restaurant, or victualers house shal 
have in his, their or its possession, at any time of year 
at such place of business, or at any other place where 
any of his, their or its provisions, which are for use ir 
his, their or its business, are kept, any bird or animal 
the sale of which is prohibited by this chapter. (Set 
Chapter 1385.) 



21 

Sec. 36. Whoever violates the provisions of Section 
35 of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not ex- 
ceeding twenty dollars for each bird or animal or part 
thereof found in his possession in respect to which the 
violation occurs; any commissioner or deputy who shall 
compromise or settle any violation of the bird and game 
law out of court, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and 
shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding one hundred 
dollars. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 37. No person shall have in his possession, at 
any time, more than fifteen wild birds, the sale of which 
is prohibited by law. Whoever violates the provisions 
of this section shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding 
twenty dollars for each bird or part thereof. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 2097 

AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 136 OF 
THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF BIRDS," 
AND OF ALL ACTS IN AMENDMENT THEREOF 
AND IN ADDITION THERETO, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES. 

Sec. 3. Whoever shall enter upon land of another for 
the purpose of either hunting, trapping or fishing, and 
while upon said land shall do any wilful damage to the 
property of the owner of such land, shall be fined not 
exceeding twenty dollars. The owner of such property 
may recover from any person convicted of a violation of 
the provisions of this section, in an action of the case, 
twice the amount of the damages so sustained by him; 
and the hcense to pursue, hunt and kill game in the 
State of Rhode Island during the open season issued 
under the provisions of Chapter 381 of the Public Laws, 
passed at the January Session, A. D. 1909, and the acts 
in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, to any 
person who shall thereafter be convicted of a violation 
of the provisions of this section shall be forfeited and 
no license shall be issued to him under the provisions of 
said Chapter 381 of the Public Laws and the Acts in 
amendment thereof and in addition thereto for a period 
of one year after such conviction. 

Sec. 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage 
and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are 
hereby repealed. 



I 



Public Laws of Rhode Islaud 

Chapter 381 



AN ACT TO REQUIRE AND PROVIDE FOR THE 
REGISTRATION OF HUNTERS. 

{As Amended.) 

Section 1. No person shall hunt, pursue, take, or 
kill any wild bird or animal, in this state, without having 
first obtained a license as hereinafter provided: Provided, 
that nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting 
the right of a bona fide resident of this state or his immedi- 
ate family to hunt, without such license, on land owned 
by him, or on land leased by him and on which he is 
actually domiciled, and which land is used exclusively 
for agricultural purposes, and not for club shooting 
purposes, nor as affecting in any way the provisions of 
the laws relating to trespass, nor as authorizing the 
pursuit, taking, wounding or killing, or the possession 
of wild birds or animals contrary to any laws now in 
force or which may be hereinafter enacted, nor shall the 
possession of such license grant or confer any privilege 
not enjoyed prior to the passage of this act. 

Sec. 2. The clerk of every town or city shall upon 
the application of any person and the payment of the 



24 

license fee and recording fee hereinafter provided, issue 
to such person a Hcense to pursue, hunt, and kill game 
in the state of Rhode Island during the open season. 
Provided, however, that no license shall be granted to 
any person under fifteen years of age. Every such 
license shall be printed or stamped upon some durable 
and waterproof material and shall bear the name, age, 
occupation, place of residence, and an identifying des- 
scription of the licensee, and shall expire on the thirty- 
first day of December next succeeding the date of issue, 
and shall be in the form prescribed by the secretary of 
state. (See Chapter 690.) 

Sec. 3. Every ho7ia fide resident of the state, who 
is a citizen of the United States, shall pay for such license 
a fee of one dollar and recording fee of, twenty-five cents. 
Every non-resident of this state, who is a citizen of the 
United States, shall pay for such license a fee of ten 
dollars and a recording fee of twenty-five cents. Every 
unnaturalized, foreign-born person shall pay for such 
license a fee of fifteen dollars and a recording fee of twenty- 
five cents. Provided, that any non-resident, who is a 
citizen of the United States and who owns real estate in 
Rhode Island assessed for taxation at a valuation of not 
less than five hundred dollars; and any non-resident, 
who is a citizen of the United States, and who is a member 
of a club or association incorporated for the purpose of 
shooting or fishing, and incorporated prior to January 
1st, 1909, which club or association owns real estate in 
Rhode Island assessed for taxation at a valuation of not 
less than one thousand dollars; and any non-resident 



f 



I 



25 

citizen of the United States who, on the written invitation 
of a member of an association incorporated under the 
laws of this state, attends a meeting of the association 
for the purpose of hunting foxes only, during a period 
not exceeding six days in any one year, may procure 
a special license upon the payment of a license fee of 
one dollar and a recording fee of twenty-five cents. Each 
non-resident hunting license except the special license 
issued for the purpose of hunting foxes, shall enable the 
licensee to carry from the state not more than ten wild 
fowl or birds, the exportation of which is prohibited by 
law, in any one calendar year: Provided, that the owner 
thereof shall carry them open to view for inspection, 
(See Chapter 1898.) 

Sec. 4. Every person who may desire such license 
shall file an application with the clerk of the town or 
city wherein he resides, if a resident; and with the 
clerk of any town or city in this state, if a non-resident, 
properly sworn to, stating the name, age, occupation, 
place of residence, nationality, weight, height, and color 
of hair and eyes of the applicant for whom such license 
is wanted, and pay the fees as provided in this act. 

Sec. 5. Every person holding a license provided by 
this act shall have the same in his possession at all times 
while hunting in this state, and shall present the same 
for inspection to any person demanding the same; and 
an 5' person refusing to so present said hcense for inspec- 
tion upon demand shall be liable to the same punishment 
as if he were hunting without such license. A hcense 



26 

shall not be valid before the Hcensee shall endorse 
his name in his own handwriting thereupon, and shall 
be good only for the person to whom it is issued, and any 
transfer or loan of such hcense shall work a forfeiture 
of the same. 

Sec. 6. Every person who shall violate any of the 
provisions of this act shall be punished by a fine of not 
less than twenty dollars nor more than fifty dollars, 
or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or both 
fine and imprisonment; and the hcense of any person 
convicted of violating any of the provisions of this act 
shall be forfeited, and no license shall be granted such 
person for a period of one year after such conviction; 
and the same penalties shall be imposed upon any person 
who shall be convicted of hunting, pursuing or kiUing 
any wild bird or animal on a license which has been issued 
in the name of another person. 

Sec. 7. Every town or city clerk shall keep a record 
of all such licenses issued by him, which record shall 
be open to inspection by all officers authorized to make 
arrest, and by the general treasurer and the state auditor 
or their agents, and by the commissioners of birds and 
their deputies and such clerk shall, on the first Monday 
of every month, pay to the general treasurer all moneys, 
except recording fees, received by him for such hcenses 
issued during the month preceding, which moneys are 
hereby appropriated to the use of the commissioners of 
birds for the preservation and propagation of birds and 
game; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw 



27 

his orders on the general treasurer from time to time 
for the payment of so much of the moneys, held by the 
treasurer under and by virtue of this act, as may be 
necessary, upon receipt by him of properly authenticated 
vouchers. (See Chapter 529.) 

Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the commissioners 
of birds and their deputies, appointed in accordance 
with the provisions of Chapter 136 of the General Laws 
or any amendments thereof, to enforce the provisions 
of this chapter, and to prosecute every person who shall 
violate the same. They shall have power to arrest, 
without warrant, every person whom they shall find 
killing, pursuing, or taking any wild animal or bird 
contrary to the provisions of this chapter: Provided, 
that any person so arrested without warrant shall not 
be detained longer than twelve hours. Whenever com- 
plaint is made by said commissioners, or either of them, 
or by their deputies, of any violation of the provisions 
of this chapter, they shall not be required, either by 
themselves or by their deputies, to furnish surety for 
costs, or be liable for costs on such complaint. All fines 
recovered by virtue of this chapter shall enure one-haK 
thereof to the use of the state and one-half thereof to the 
use of the complainant, and all prosecutions thereof 
shall be commenced within ninety days after the com- 
mission of the offence, and not afterwards. 

Sec. 9. Any deputy bird commissioner who is em- 
ployed by the commissioners, under pay, for a period 
exceeding two consecutive days at a time, shall not be 



28 

entitled to any portion of fines imposed, in case of arrests 
and convictions, during such period of employment, 
either under this act or Chapters 136 and 137 of the 
General Laws and the several acts in addition and amend- 
ment thereto. In such event the entire amount of fines 
imposed shall enure to the state. 

Sec. 10. This act shall take effect upon its passage, 
and Chapter 1456 of the Public Laws, passed April 23, 
1907, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith 
are hereby repealed. 



I 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 2093 



AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE FORFEITURE OF 
HUNTERS' LICENSES IN CERTAIN CASES. 

Section 1, The license to pursue, hunt and kill game 
in the State of Rhode Island during the open season 
issued under the provisions of Chapter 381 of the Public 
Laws, passed at the January Session, A. D. 1909, and 
the acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, 
to any person who shall thereafter be convicted of vio- 
lating any of the provisions of Chapters 136 or 137 of 
the General Laws, or of Chapter 1076 of the Public Laws, 
passed at the January Session, A. D. 1914, or of Chap- 
ters 1229 or 1230 of the Pubhc Laws, passed at the 
January Sesssion, A. D. 1915, or of Chapter 1663 of the 
Public Laws, passed at the January Session, A. D. 1918, 
or of Chapter 2003 of the Public Laws, passed at the 
January session, A. D. 1920, shall be forfeited and no 
such license shall be granted to such person for a period 
of one year after such conviction. 

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 



I 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1229 

AN ACT MAKING STATE RESERVATION RE- 
FUGES FOR BIRDS AND GAME. 

Section 1. No person shall hunt, pursue, take, kill, 
or in any manner molest or destroy any wild birds or 
game within the exterior boundaries of any state reser- 
vation, park, common or any land held in trust for 
public use, except that the authorities or persons having 
the control and charge of such reservations, parks, 
commons, or other lands, may in their discretion, and 
with such limitations as they may deem advisable, au- 
thorize persons to hunt, take or kill within said boundaries 
any wild birds, or animals, which are not now protected 
by law. Such authorizations shall be by written 
hcense, and the hcense shall be revocable at the pleasure 
of the authorities or persons granting it. 

Sec. 2. The boards, officials and persons having 
charge of state reservations, parks, commons and lands 
held for pubhc use shall enforce the provisions of this 
act. 

Sec. 3. Every violation of any provision of this act 
shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty dollars. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1230 

AN ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF FURBEAR- 
ING ANIMALS. 

(As Amended.) 

Section 1. Any person who shall take, kill, destroy, 
pursue with intent to kill, or set, maintain or tend any 
trap or snare for the purpose of taking, kilhng or destroy- 
ing any raccoon between the firs't day of February 
and the first day of October in any year, any muskrat, 
mink or otter between the first day of February and the 
first day of November in any year, or any skunk between 
the fifteenth day of April and the first day of November 
in any year, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding 
twenty dollars for each offence. (See Chapter 1891.) 

Sec. 2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to pre- 
vent any person from taking or killing at any time of 
the year any skunk, muskrat, raccoon or mink upon his 
own land. 



General Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 137 

OF FERRETS, WEASELS, HARES, GRAY SQUIR- 
RELS AND DEER. 

(As Amended.) 

Section 1. Every person who shall take, kill or de- 
stroy any undomesticated rabbit, hare or gray squirrel 
between the thirty-first day of December and the first 
day of November, next following, shall be punished 
by a fine of twenty dollars for each and every rabbit, 
hare, or gray sq'uirrel so taken, killed or destroyed, one- 
half of said fine to the use of the complainant and the 
other half to the use of the state. (See Chapter 698.) 

Sec. 2. Every person who shall take, kill or destroy 
any rabbit or hare by the usfe of any ferret or weasel, 
shall be imprisoned in the county jail ten days for every 
such offence. 

Sec. 3. Every person who shall have in his possession 
any ferret or weasel while hunting for or after any hare 
or rabbit, or who shall be associated in hunting for hares 
or rabbits with others who shall have in their possession 
or under their control any ferret or weasel shall be fined 
not exceeding five dollars for every such offence. 



33 

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful to pursue or shoot deer 
in this state except in accordance with the provisions 
of the following section. 

Sec. 5. Any person owning or occupying any farm 
or orchard and any person in his employ may, while 
on his own premises or the premises of his employer, 
kill any deer which shall be found destroying any crops, 
vegetables, or fruit trees belonging to such person or his 
employer: Provided, however, that no such person shall 
shoot any deer unless he has obtained from the secretary 
of state a permit so to do; and the secretary of state 
shall, upon application, issue^ to any responsible land 
owner, or his employees, a permit authorizing such person 
to shoot deer in accordance with the provisions of this 
section. No person shall pursue or shoot any deer 
except with a shot gun, or employ any missile larger than 
buck shot. 

Sec. 6. Any person violating the provisions of sec- 
tions four and five shall be fined not less than one hundred 
dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each off- 



Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the commissioners of 
birds and their deputies, appointed in accordance with 
the provisions of chapter one hundred thirty-six, to 
enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prosecute 
every person who shall violate the same. They shall 
have power to arrest, without warrant, every person 
whom they shall find pursuing with intent to kill, taking 



34 

or killing, or having in his possession any undomesticated 
rabbit, hare, gray squirrel or deer contrary to the pro- 
visions of this chapter: Provided, that any person so 
arrested without warrant shall not be detained longer 
than twelve hours. 

Sec. 8. Whenever complaint is made by said com- 
missioners, or either of them, or by their deputies of any 
violation of the provisions of this chapter, they shall 
not be required either by themselves or by their deputies 
to furnish surety for costs, or be hable for costs on such 
complaint. 

Sec. 9. Any commissioner or his deputy may seize 
without warrant any undomesticated rabbit, hare, gray 
squirrel, or deer found in the possession of any person 
at any time when the killing of the same is prohibited 
by law. 

Sec. 10. Whoever shall construct, erect, set, repair, 
maintain or tend any wire snare for the purpose of 
catching or killing any animal shall be punished by a 
fine of not less- than fifty nor more than one hundred 
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than sixty nor more 
than ninety days, or both. One-half of said fine, if 
such be imposed, shall enure to the complainant, and 
one-half to the state. 

Sec. 11. Any person injured in person or property 
by the violation of the provisions of the preceding section 
may recover from the persons inflicting such injury 
twice the amount of such damage. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1076 

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE USE OF TRAPS. 

Section. 1. Any person who shall set, place, main- 
tain or tend a steel trap with a spread of more than six 
inches, or a steel trap with teeth jaws, or a "stop-thief" 
or choke trap with an opening of more than six inches, 
shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding one hundred 
dollars. 

Sec. 2. Any person who shall set, maintain or tend 
a steel trap on enclosed land of another without the 
consent in writing of the owner thereof, and any person 
who shall fail to visit at least once in twenty-four hours 
a trap set or maintained by him, shall be punished by a 
fine not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sec. 3. Any person who shall set, place, maintain or 
tend any steel trap, "stop-thief" or choke trap for the 
purpose of catching or killing any wild animal, unless 
the same shall be placed in a hole, brush pile, stone wall 
or other protected place, so situated as to be inaccessible 
to any domestic animal, shall be punished by a fine of 
not exceeding twenty dollars. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1513 

AN ACT RELATIVE TO PROPAGATION AND SALE 
OF WILD BIRDS AND GAME 
QUADRUPEDS. 

Section 1. Upon written application to the commis- 
sioners of birds, a license may be granted in their dis- 
cretion, without charge, to any person to engage in the 
rearing, within an enclosure, of any wild birds or game 
quadrupeds, and tb dispose of the same alive for pur- 
poses of propagation, under such rules and regulations 
as may be made from time to time by the commissioners. 
Such artificially propagated wild birds or game quad- 
rupeds, if alive, may be bought, sold and had in possession 
at any season of the year for purposes of propagation. 

Sec. 2. Any and all licenses granted by said com- 
missioners of birds may be revoked by said commis- 
sioners at any time. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

Chapter 1663 

AN ACT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE 

BIRD AND QUADRUPED PRESERVES AND 

THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS 

^ AND QUADRUPEDS. 

K. 

Section 1. For the purpose of protecting any species 

of useful wild birds or wild quadrupeds, and for the 

propagation thereof, the commissioners of birds may 

lease, or, with the consent of the owner, may control 

any land deemed suitable in character and situation for 

such purpose. Such land shall be conspicuously posted 

and designated as a state reservation. 

Sec. 2. No person shall at any time hunt, pursue, 
take, kill or in any manner molest or destroy any wild 
bird, the nest or eggs thereof, or any wild quadruped, on 
land leased or controlled by the commissioners of birds 
as a state reservation, except that the said commissioners 
may, in their discretion and with such hmitations as 
they may deem advisable, authorize in writing any de- 
puty, the owner or the occupant of such land, to hunt, 
pursue, take, kill or destroy any predatory birds, the 
nest or eggs thereof, or any quadruped harmful to useful 
birds or to agriculture. Such authority shall be revocable 
at the pleasure of the commissioners. 



38 

It shall be the duty of every commissioner and deputy 
commissioner of birds to arrest for violations of this act, 
and persons convicted of such violation shall be pun- 
ished by a fine of not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sec. 3. This act shall in no way affect the provisions 
of Chapter 1229 of the PubUc Laws, passed at the Jan- 
uary Session, A. D. 1915, entitled "An act making state 
reservation refuges for birds and game," or Sections 33 
and 34 of Chapter 136 of the General Laws, entitled "Of 
Birds," as added by Chapter 1085 of the Public Laws, 
passed at the January Session A. D., 1914. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 

, Chapter 2003 

AN ACT MAKING A GAME PRESERVE IN THE 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 

Section 1. No person shall take, kill, destroy, pursue 
or in any manner molest any wild bird, except as herein- 
after provided at any season of the year for a term of 
four years beginning July 1, 1920, on the following 
described land in the town of Warwick, viz.: All land 
south of the main highway from Warwick Neck to 
Apponaug from a point where the Warwick Neck road 
joins the said main road in Old Warwick to the New 
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad bridge in 
Apponaug. 

Sec. 2. This act does not prohibit licensed hunters 
from shooting wild water fowl on or near the shores in 
this territory during the open season. 

Sec. 3. Every person who shall violate the provisions 
of this act shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five 
dollars for each offence. 

Note. — The Federal Game Laws as to migratory birds 
will be enforced by the Federal authorities in case of a 
conflict with the State Laws as to open season. 



40 

OPEN SEASON FOR RHODE ISLAND. 

(Under Both Federal and State Laws.) 

The following game birds and animals may, be killed 
legally in Rhode Island during the seasons indicated. 
The Federal seasons on migratory birds have been taken 
into consideration, and the seasons shown are the times 
when migratory game birds may be hunted without 
violating either State or Federal law. 

OPEN SEASON Dates Inclusive. 

Gray squirrel, hare, rabbit, quail or 
bob white, ruffed grouse or partridge, 

pheasant Nov. 1-Dec. 31 

Duck, goose, brant, coot, gallinules Oct. 1-Jan. 15 

Black-bellied and golden plovers, yellow- 
legs Aug. 16-Nov. 30 

Wilson snipe Oct. 1-Nov 30 

Woodcock Nov. 1-Nov. 30 

Rails (other than coot and gallinules) . .Sept. 1-Nov. 30 

No open season on doves and Hungarian partridges. 
Deer may be killed only under a written permit from 
the secretary of state by the owner or occupant of pre- 
mises on which they are injuring crops. Swans, wood 
duck, curlew, willet, dodwits, upland plover, and all the 
smaller shore birds except those for which open seasons 
are provided as above stated, are protected at all times 
under the Federal regulations. 

Migratory game birds may be taken only from one 
half -hour before sunrise to sunset. 



41 

Bag Limits and Possession: Fifteen ducks, 8 geese, 
8 brant, 6 woodcock, 15 in all of plovers and yellowlegs, 
15 Wilson snipe, 15 in all of rails, coots, and gallinules a 
day, but not more than 15 game birds of all kinds in 
possession at one time. Possession of water-fowl, coots, 
gallinules and woodcock permitted during first ten days 
of close season. 

Hunting Licenses: Resident, $1.25; non-resident, 
$10.25; alien, $15.25; non-resident guest's limited fox 
hunting hcense, $1.25 per year; issued by city and town 
clerks. Not required of resident or his immediate 
family to hunt on own or leased agricultural lands on 
which actually domiciled. Non-resident owning real 
estate valued at not less than $500, and non-resident 
member of club incorporated for hunting or fishing 
purposes prior to January 1, 1909, which owns real 
estate assessed for taxation at value of not less than 
$1,000, may procure hcense at a fee of $1.25. Licenses 
not issued to minors under 15 years of age. Consent 
of owner required for hunting birds on land of another 
from January 1 to November 1. 

Sale and Export of all protected game prohibited 
except a non-resident licensee may take out under his 
license 10 wild fowl or birds in one calendar year, if 
carried open to view. 

Game Laws for 1922 containing the Federal Law and 
Regulations may be had free upon application to the 
Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C. 



COMMISSIONERS OF BIRDS 



Everett L. Walling, Chairman . . . Providence County 
Providence, R. I. 

Edmund W. Kent Newport County 

Newport, R. I. 

John Barlow Washington County 

Kingston, R. I. 

Alexander G. Fales Bristol County 

Bristol. R. I. 

Everett L. Barrus Kent County 

Conimicut, R. I. 



